“With 18 house beers on tap there’s something for everyone. From cream ale to Stouts we brew them all with the largest line up at this TAPS in Irvine,” David Huls says. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ahhh. Double Actuator is a tropical, malt driven double IPA from Bottle Logic in Anaheim which regularly has new releases and nightly social events. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The wackier the better at Cismontane, a brewery in Santa Ana. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Geena Guerrido of Santa Ana, left, and Dulce Cortez of Tustin enjoy brews and nightly trivia on wine barrel table tops at Bottle Logic in Anaheim. Lines were long for the two food trucks serving pizza and dumplings. The brewery is known for its dark beers like Circadian Rhythm, a black IPA with roasty coffee notes, second from left. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

At Unsung’s only tasting room, in Anaheim, you’ll find core beers from the Tustin production facility as well as experimental brews. 500 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim. (Photo by Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Bottle Logic was packed on a Thursday night as patrons wait in line for craft brews poured from a truck at the Anaheim brewery. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

May the force be with all those who are thirsty at Bottle Logic since all lines were long at the Anaheim brewery. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Beers and food trucks are a natural pairing at Anaheim’s Bottle Logic where the crowd chose from Hobo Co. pizza or Mad Dumplings, right, at the Anaheim brewery. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Bottle Logic was hopping on a Thursday night as patrons wait in line for craft brews poured from a truck and food truck lines at the Anaheim brewery. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Bootlegger’s Fullerton tasting room, an indoor-outdoor beer garden with arcade games and a giant Jenga set, is the perfect setting for trying some of the brewerys off-the-shelf brews served in Mason jars. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Bruery consistently makes some of the best suds in Orange County, if not Southern California. Now, the Belgian powerhouse is getting into IPAs, a move that should make every brewery in Orange County very nervous. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Hazy sours at Good Beer in Santa Ana. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Find fruit forward sours, as well as some riffs on classic ales at Hoparazzi in Anaheim. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Evan Price, formerly of Noble Ale Works, is known for cranking out killer IPAs. His new Green Cheek (named after the wild parrots of Old Towne Orange where Price lives) is no different. He’s got a few “hazy” IPAs on tap, but he’s also producing a lager, a Pilsner and two stouts. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

So far so good at this new brewery launched in mid-June by former Noble Ale head brewer Evan Price. Only open a few weeks, the place is jam-packed as Price, a local rock star, has a big fan following. He’s clearly known for cranking out killer IPAs, and Green Cheek (named after the wild parrots of Old Towne Orange where Price lives) is no different. He’s got a few “hazy” IPAs on tap, but he’s also producing a lager, a Pilsner and two stouts. The Pilsner knocks it out of the park. Simply brilliant. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

So far so good at this new brewery launched in mid-June by former Noble Ale head brewer Evan Price. Only open a few weeks, the place is jam-packed as Price, a local rock star, has a big fan following. He’s clearly known for cranking out killer IPAs, and Green Cheek (named after the wild parrots of Old Towne Orange where Price lives) is no different. He’s got a few “hazy” IPAs on tap, but he’s also producing a lager, a Pilsner and two stouts. The Pilsner knocks it out of the park. Simply brilliant. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

San Juan Capistrano’s first brewery opened in spring 2017 with about 10 beers, mostly IPAs. Our favorites: the bright ale Canteen and the Self Titled saison. Wits and stouts were being brewed during our visit. 33049 Calle Aviador, No. C, San Juan Capistrano (Photo by Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

We looked at the quality of the slate of beers, the tasting room atmosphere and knowledge of the barkeeps. Over the course of several weeks (and multiple Uber and Lyft rides), we sampled more than 200 types beers, or 800 ounces of saisons, sours, sessions, stouts and IPAs. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

All-American Ales opened this year in Anaheim. The patriotic-themed brewery offers a range of beers, which keep the customers sticking around. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Docent Brewing is one of the best-designed breweries in Orange County, outfitted with leather armchairs, sofas and custom concrete coffee tables. The bar stretches along the middle of the tasting room and is manned by friendly barkeeps. (Photo by Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Oggi’s medal winning McGarvey’s Scottish Ale. (Courtesy Oggi’s)

Amber beer goes well with cheese served at Taps Fish House and Brewery in Brea. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG_

Taps Fish House and Brewery in Brea. (Photo by H. Lorren Au Jr., Orange County Register/SCNG)

Bad Ambre, center, is a malty lager with caramel notes and restrained bitterness at TAPS’ in Irvine. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

TAPS offers towering tap choices. Guests can choose from 18 craft beers, but will have to venture to the Irvine location to see the other two. The staff didn’t want the flights to topple over on a guest. Bad Ambre pairs well with dry-aged steak, from top left, Area Code pairs with ceviche, Poseidon goes with charcuterie and Amend This! is nice with sea bass. Charcuterie is sprinkled along the flights. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Every First Friday of the month my husband throws a party in his Man Cave to celebrate craft beer.

The theme changes each time as we attempt to bring a variety of tasting rooms to our backyard. One month we’ll focus on San Diego brews. The next month, we’ll go with the Pacific Northwest.

Sometimes it’s all about the styles: Belgians, IPAs, German lagers, and English ales.

In the beginning nine years ago, we rarely sampled Orange County beers because there weren’t many. Bootlegger’s Brewery in Fullerton and The Bruery in Placentia were barely getting started.

But the Orange County brewery landscape has changed dramatically since 2008. We are bursting at the seams with breweries – from San Clemente to Brea. Anaheim, where the city’s beer-loving mayor is ultra-welcoming, is the epicenter.

The choices are endless. But who is the best?

In the spring, Register Libations columnist Paul Hodgins and I set out to discover the top breweries in Orange County. When we started, we had a list of at least 30. In the middle of our adventure, one brewery closed and several others opened.

It was hard to keep up.

We looked at the quality of the slate of beers, the tasting room atmosphere and knowledge of the barkeeps. To make our top 10 list, your core slate of beers along with seasonal specials and limited editions had to dazzle us.

That means, over the course of several weeks (and multiple Uber and Lyft rides), we sampled more than 200 types of beers, that’s 800 ounces of saisons, sours, porters, ambers, sessions, stouts and IPAs.

What we learned: Thanks to stalwarts like The Bruery, Beachwood and Bottle Logic leading by example, Orange County is cranking out some great suds these days. Still, there are a few duds who continue to treat brewing like a hobby. To those guys, “Go back to your garage.”

Orange County has a long way to go before we reach the epic varieties found in San Diego and Los Angeles. But we will get there if we continue to unleash talented rookies such as Unsung, Stereo, Chapman Crafted, Docent and Green Cheek.

All-American Ale Works
Army National Guard veterans with a hankering for craft beer launched this brewery in the spring. From a light and crisp kolsch to a milk chocolate stout, this rookie patriotic themed tasting room gets points for its range and friendly service. They came out of the gates ready to play with the big boys by offering 12 different types of beers – mostly American style ales. Our favorites: A smoky peanut butter porter dubbed Liberty or Death and Mermaid Bubbles, a pineapple cream ale. Fun factor: They serve three types of beer floats. 5120 E. La Palma Road, No. 103, Anaheim, all-americanaleworks.com

Anaheim Brewery

Husband and wife Greg and Barbara Gerovac rebirthed the Anaheim Brewery – named after the city’s original 1870 watering hole. Unfortunately most of the core beers don’t live up to the brewery’s historic setting, in the heart of the revived Anaheim Packing District. The flagship amber lager “Anaheim 1888” is worth trying but you can also find it at many local restaurants. Instead, saddle up to the vintage bar salvaged from a local saloon, and try one of the seasonal beers on tap. They tend to be more sophisticated. 336 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, anaheimbrew.com

Archaic Craft Brewery

After two years in Old Town Tustin, the operation still feels more like a hobby than a serious brewery venture. Tucked inside Centro wood-fired pizza parlor, the beer selection is limited to a few housemade brews and guest taps. The place is owned by Pozzuoli Vineyard & Winery, which has tasting rooms in Tustin and Paso Robles. Some beers run out, leaving very few options. The Honey Cream Ale and a Recluse Porter are both pedestrian efforts. Not for the serious beer aficionado. 140 E. Main St., Tustin, centrotustin.com

Artifex Brewing Company

A huge, lurid mural of a young woman glugging a torrent of beer from a spigot is the lone frat boy touch in this otherwise tasteful, private craft brewery with a small tasting area tucked into San Clemente’s beer neighborhood in the hills above the I-5. Best beers? Unicorn Juice, an American Wheat flavored with passion fruit and the Sour with a lemon-y and grapefruit-infused finish. Show Me Your Roots, a Blonde Ale is light, crisp, biscuit-ish and a bit tart with a short, clean finish. Bog Trotter is a balanced, caramel-y and smooth Irish Red Ale. There’s also Trigger Finder, a bitter and fruity West Coast IPA. 919 Calle Amanecer, No. A, San Clemente, artifexbrewing.com

Asylum

An extremely limited selection of a half-dozen beers for this startup along the popular La Palma beer trail. The Dank IPA was solid, but the Honey Blond and West Coast Pale Ale didn’t impress. The chairs and tables are oddly disproportionate to any human – big or small. These guys better make some quick fixes, or the touring beer buses might just skip them altogether. They also sell cold brew coffee on tap. 2970 La Palma Ave., Anaheim, asylumbrewingcompany.com

Backstreet Brewery
A vast range of beers from local pizza chain Lamppost Pizza. This local craft beer pioneer has been brewing suds in Irvine since 1998. Bottling started in 2014. Additional tasting rooms have opened in Vista (2004) and Anaheim (2015). The Anaheim brewery, near Angel Stadium, delivers beer within the city limits. Top sellers: Tomahawk Double IPA, Raspberry Sour, Set Sail IPA. Of those, we enjoyed the Tomahawk the best. Backstreet beers can be found in restaurants, liquor stores, as well local restaurants. Not all Lamppost restaurants serve Backstreet beer; however, locations in Orange and Yorba Linda do offer a few core beers on tap. 1884 S. Santa Cruz St., Anaheim, 14450 Culver Drive, Irvine, backstreetbrew.com

Barley Forge Brewing Company

Squirreled away in the back of a parking lot not far from The LAB, this stripped-down but hip brewery has some stylish touches, such as the Loteria-style labels on its beers. The sandwiches are legendary, but if you want to eat for free the popcorn is decent, too. It gets a little crowded in the order line – best to pay cash rather than run a tab. Memorable beers include: Grandpa Tractor, a Dortmunder-style lager that was perfect for hot weather.; Nom Nom, a very cloudy Hefeweisen with strong banana and clove flavors; The Orange Curtain, a smooth and tasty IPA with surprisingly little bitterness; Future Tripping, a bracing DIPA with Amarillo and Simcoe hops and The Patsy, a sweet-ish Coconut rye stout. 2957 Randolph Ave, Costa Mesa, barleyforge.com

Beachwood Brewing
Beechwood is rapidly becoming a beer-and-dining empire along the coast in Seal Beach and Long Beach. It took over Beach City Brewing, a so-so- craft beer outpost in an industrial neighborhood of Huntington Beach, in 2016, partly to increase production for growing demand that couldn’t be handled by its cramped Long Beach facility. With cleverly named beers like Pie Fidelity (strong hints of lemon meringue pie) and Mocha Machine (a well-balanced Imperial Chocolate Coffee Porter), this good-vibe hangout takes a creative approach to its beer-making. Mostly it works, especially in beers like Wholly Smoke, a delicious smoked porter. 7631 Woodwind Drive, Huntington Beach, beachwoodbbq.com

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
Not for the serious beer connoisseur. BJ’s makes 11 signature beers and cider, as well as 10 seasonal beers that rotate throughout the year. BJ’s operates 6 breweries; the only local breweries are inside restaurants in West Covina and Brea. bjsrestaurants.com

Bootlegger’s BreweryDon’t underestimate this granddaddy craft brewery of Orange County. Though you can find its core labels in restaurants, supermarkets and liquor stores around O.C., Bootlegger’s can still churn out some better-than-mainstream beers. The Fullerton tasting room, an indoor-outdoor beer garden with arcade games and a giant Jenga set, is the perfect setting for trying some of the brewery’s more complex experimental and seasonal brews served in Mason jars. 130 S. Highland Ave., Fullerton, bootleggersbrewery.com

Bottle Logic
Beer, foodie and science geeks unite in this hipster haven with a superb collection of stylish, but edgy beers. When your tasting room requires a food truck each night, you know you’re doing something right. Crowds spill into the barrel room, where suds junkies gather over upside down wine barrels drinking flights from elegant tulip-shaped sampler glasses. For the uninitiated, go for “The Constants” tasting flight, which offers five core beers including the not-to-be missed saison, Tattered Prince. Bottle Logic is the real deal, and they have multiple awards to prove it. 1072 N. Armando St., Anaheim, bottlelogic.com

Bruery Terreux
The sister brewery to The Bruery opened last year in Anaheim after it became clear that owner Patrick Rue had to separate the production of his award winning Belgian-style ales and his farmhouse-style ales fermented with wild yeasts and souring bacteria. As you enter Terreux, your senses are overwhelmed with the smell of ales aged in bourbon soaked oak barrels. These complex sours can be debated all day. If you’re a Bruery fan, this branch is another adventure for your palate. Tip: The patio is large and perfect for large groups or hipsters with children. You can get most of the best Bruery beers here so it might be a better option if you’re looking for a more laid back environment. 1174 N. Grove St., Anaheim, brueryterreux.com

Chapman Crafted

Haven Gastropub’s Wil Dee is one of the creative forces behind this homey place in Old Towne Orange, just a stone’s throw from the circle. Open since summer 2016, it has consistently good brews across the board. The German and Belgian-style beers are especially good. We liked Hello Again, a light but flavorful lager (4.8 percent ABV) and Table Friendly, a Belgian Pale Ale that was dry yet fruity (5.3 percent ABV). Only drawback: this is downtown Orange, so parking can be a vexing challenge. 123 N. Cypress St., Orange, chapmancrafted.beer

Cismontane Brewing Company

If you’re looking for mainstream styles, this ain’t your bag. Normal here is serving a heavy hitting Belgian Quad alongside an uber-light blonde aged sour. Skip the core beers (only a few on tap) and go for the seasonal, wickedly weird and cask specials. Love hop-forward IPAs? Try the Double Rainbow IPA, a harsh hoppy red that goes down like a triple. Available in late spring. Go on Tuesday for two reasons: cask night and Soho food truck. The taco truck is one of the best in Orange County. Homemade corn tortillas are paired with a savory selection of meats and fine scratch salsas. Pair it with the craziest thing you’ll find on the tap list such as Mesa V, a Pilsner/Reisling mashup that most certainly is the brainchild of head brewer/owner Evan Weinberg who used to be a winemaker in Napa. Next up: an onsite distillery is in the works. Stay tuned. 1409 E. Warner Ave., No. C, Santa Ana, cismontanebrewing.com/home/

Docent Brewing
San Juan Capistrano’s first brewery opened this spring with about 10 beers, mostly IPAs. No sours. It’s one of the best-designed breweries in Orange County, outfitted with leather armchairs, sofas and custom concrete coffee tables. Luckily the beers match the modern industrial-chic-meets-cigar lounge look. Our favorites: The bright ale Canteen, and the Self Titled saison. Wits and stouts were being brewed during our visit. They are definitely catering to a Gen X and business casual crowd with the decor and in-house kitchen. The kitchen serves sandwiches and Mountaineer Rolls. The latter are house made Hawaiian style sweet rolls stuffed with meats and cheeses. Yum. 33049 Calle Aviador, No. C, San Juan Capistrano, docentbrewing.com

Evans Brewing Co.
Since taking over the old Bayhawk Ales brand in late 2015, the publicly-traded brewery in Irvine has been busy rebranding. The company brews in Irvine, but its only tasting room is located inside The Public House in downtown Fullerton. The Evans-owned brewpub offers a large variety of house beers with a few rotating guest taps. Easy, approachable brews pair well with a solid menu of upscale pub grub. The brand is expanding with another Public House opening soon at Bella Terra mall in Huntington Beach. 138 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, evansbrewco.com/thebeer

Four Sons Brewing

The atmosphere here is pretty basic: Concrete floor, equipment in the midst of everything. It’s not going to win any points for beauty, but the rowdy crowd didn’t care. The afternoon we were there it was fairly packed, and a nearby food truck was seeing lots of action. Try the Vier Sohne Hefe, A light hefeweisen, not too cloudy or lemon-y and clean tasting; Coconutorious Coconut Amber which is medium-bodied and the coconut is there but it’s not overwhelming. Light, medium-dry finish. There’s also the Land of Hipportunty Blood Orange IPA: Strong citrus nose, deep citrus in mid palate. Stays all the way through to a nice bright finish and the Nightmare on Gothard Street Chocolate Coffee Stout: more coffee than chocolate. Quite bitter, but if that’s your thing, this is right up your alley. 18421 Gothard St., Huntington Beach, foursonsbrewing.com

Golden Road Brewery
Though it’s owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, there’s nothing slick or corporate about Golden Road’s only Orange County outpost. The Anaheim tasting room, open since late 2015, looks like a struggling incubator with its mix-and-match furniture and lumpy college dorm-inspired sofas. In reality, there’s big money and big plans for Golden Road, which keeps threatening to deliver an onsite beer garden and restaurant. Until that time, enjoy the grungy tasting room, which cranks out much more nuanced beers compared to its neighbor Karl Strauss. Go for the in-house beers marked with asterisks. They are made by head brewer Victor Novak, a wizard at all styles from a refreshing Belgian wit to a hefty Russian Imperial Stout. Tip: Don’t forget to check the “What’s brewing” chalkboard near the bathrooms. It’s a smart come-back-for-more teaser as it describes the next round of beers headed for the taproom. 2210 E. Orangewood Ave., Anaheim, goldenroad.la/anaheim

Green Cheek Beer Company

So far so good at this brewery launched in mid-June by former Noble Ale head brewer Evan Price. The place is already jam-packed as Price, a local rock star, has a big fan following. He’s clearly known for cranking out killer IPAs, and Green Cheek (named after the wild parrots of Old Towne Orange where Price lives) is no different. He’s got a few trendy “hazy” IPAs on tap, but he’s also producing a lager, a Pilsner and two stouts. The Pilsner knocks it out of the park. Brilliant rookie debut. 2294 N. Batavia St., No. C, Orange, greencheekbeer.com

Gunwhale Ales
Not far from the Lab and the Camp, this smallish, stripped down but sleek gem. There aren’t any upholstered stools or chairs, but there’s an attempt at decor, with white subway tiles, nautical touches and hanging ferns, which seem like an ironic statement here as if to say, “We are SO not a fern bar.” What we liked: Majordomo, a farmhouse ale that’s creamy, citrus-y, a tad sweet and light-bodied; and Hopped for Mama, an IPA that’s spicily hoppy and astringent with a nice, dry and somewhat bitter finish. Less impressive: Bail Ball, a raw unfiltered IPA that’s a little too frothy with an underwhelming finish. 2960 Randolph Ave., No. A, Costa Mesa, gunwhaleales.com/home

Hoparazzi
Popular sours Cerise and Melina are like drinking liquid jam. But don’t be scared away from this humble La Palma beer trail brewery. The fruit forward sours are low alcohol and won’t make you stupid drunk like those crazy bourbon barrel-aged sours found a few miles away at a certain higher-profile brewery. These a must-try for a connoisseur or novice as this brewer is well-studied in the Belgian process. And, every brew is classically crafted for a sophisticated lineup of global beers. Old school, but fun. Beers have playful riffs on rock ‘n roll names. When, you go to Stereo, you can see why that owner spent many days hanging out at Hoparazzi. 2910 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim.

Karl Strauss (Costa Mesa)

This older satellite brewpub offers 10 taps so the house selection is limited to mostly core beers. That’s too bad, because, outside the Columbia Street Amber, most of the core beers are pedestrian. But, word on the street is this 15-year-old brewery is slated for a remodel that would bring its beer selection to 20 taps. So stay tuned. In the meantime, like Anaheim, go for the slightly more interesting small batch choices or cask beers if you see them on the small beer list. 901 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa, karlstrauss.com/visit/costa-mesa

Karl Strauss (Anaheim)

The vast beer list includes 11 core beers and more than 20 seasonal and small batch beers. Unfortunately, nearly every label — even the rotating specials — is playing it safe. Open since 2016, the location across from Anaheim Stadium is ideal for sports fans. Pair it with a full menu of gastropub grub and you have a lively atmosphere on game nights. The industrial chic open dining room sports a large bar and a takeout counter for buying bottles and growlers. Anaheim offers a seven-barrel system, so there are only a few beers made onsite. Typically, they’re the most creative beers on the list. Best bet? Get the cask special. The cask-conditioned twist on a core beer (like Red Trolley Ale or Tower 10 IPA) adds some complexity to an otherwise Plain Jane beer list. On our visit it was a well-developed citra dry hopped Mosaic Session IPA. When you’re as big as Karl Strauss, it’s understandable to shoot for the middle. The upside: Everything is drinkable. The downside: It’s boring. 2390 E. Orangewood Ave., No. 100, Anaheim, karlstrauss.com/visit/anaheim

Laguna Beach Beer Company

In February, new owners acquired Cismontane Brewing Company’s brewery and tasting room in Rancho Santa Margarita; they’re working on setting up a kitchen and offering a food menu. The reviews on Yelp and elsewhere have been very positive, but we’ll give this place a little more time before we make an appraisal. 29851 Aventura, Nos. C-E, Rancho Santa Margarita, lagunabeer.com

Laguna Beach Brewery and Grill

Formerly the Ocean Avenue Brewery, this pretty if nondescript spot a stone’s throw from Laguna’s main beach, which changed ownership as well as its name in 2016, sports a long bar backed by a huge copper tank and friendly staff. The Mexican food menu is decent, but the brews are definitely not for the serious craft beer geek. Here’s a list of the best beers I tasted: Miel de Laguna Blonde Ale: Smooth, a bit honeyed, light, fine bubbles, quiet finish, very thirst-quenching; Solar Amber Ale: Wheat-y taste, fairly dry, slightly sour finish; La Palida Pale Ale: Bitter at the start, but smoothes out nicely and finishes dry; Laguna Gringo Pale Ale IPA: Quite bitter and astringent at the start, but balanced overall. 237 Ocean Ave, Laguna Beach, lagunabeachbrewery.net

Left Coast Brewing Company

A big, boisterous and friendly tasting room with a long bar and, sometimes, a long line to order brews. It’s more downscale than most, with kegs piled up amid the tables. Try these: Hop Juice, a triple IPA that’s fruit and refreshing and delightfully hoppy, but not bitter; Uno Mas, a Vienna Lager that’s balanced, slightly bitter and wheaty; Dawn Patrol, a Coffee Cream Ale with a fine mousse and a big hit of coffee in the nose that’s very thirst-quenching. Coming soon: A new brewery and restaurant in Irvine. 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente, leftcoastbrewing.com

Lost Winds
Yet another great craft brewery hidden in a San Clemente light-industrial area that has rapidly become South County’s answer to Anaheim, Lost Winds has very friendly staff and patrons. The light, airy tap room has a high ceiling and big fans, and it’s meticulously clean, as is the generous length of blond-wood counter facing the brewing equipment.The session beers are particularly good, uniformly clean and crisp. The San Clemente Session Ale (4.9 percent ABV) is a lightly hopped, straw-colored saison with enchanting hints of clove and fruit, but then a surprisingly earthy maltiness sneaks up on you. It finishes cleanly. 924 Calle Negocio, No. C, San Clemente, lostwindsbrewing.com

Network Brewery

Tucked-away location near the 55 with friendly staff, pub games and beers displayed on an ever-changing chalkboard. Unicorn Tipper was a recent talker, a milk/sweet stout-style beer with a big mousse, it’s creamy and its sweetness balances its bitterness. Great aromatics of chocolate and coffee. Yeasty and playful! 1824 Carnegie Ave., Santa Ana, networkbrewery.com

Noble Ale Works

The powerhouse brewery is known for its award-winning, hop-forward IPAs. But with head brewer/genius Evan Price gone, can Noble keep the crowds interested? With a much-needed tasting room expansion in the works for 2017, we hope the new brewers will branch out beyond the brand’s wheelhouse. We know it’s possible. Naughty Sauce, a stout on nitro, is one of its best beers. 1621 S. Sinclair St., No. B, Anaheim, noblealeworks.com

Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing
San Clemente-based production facility with 14 pizza restaurants that act as tasting rooms in Southern California. San Clemente, brewing since 1995, does not sell beer. Brews are passable, geared for a mainstream pizza crowd. Of its eight core brews, the most popular are American IPA Hoppily Ever After and the medal-winning McGarvey’s Scottish Ale. Orange County locations are in Garden Grove and Fullerton. A third restaurant is opening later this year in Mission Viejo, oggis.com

Old Orange Brewing Co.

A true microbrewery with a neighborhood feel. The brewer here is fearless as the taps change nearly every visit. With that kind of risk, there are more misses than home runs but we like that the brewer is mixing it up and always trying to improve recipes – even with the signature beers. Love the empty glass growlers used as light fixtures over the bar and the canvas posters of the brewery’s various popular beer labels.1444 N. Batavia St., Orange.

Phantom Ales
Not to be confused with Los Angeles’ Phantom Carriage, this former winery has an impressive collection of beers ranging from sours to stouts and everything in between. Renaissance fair fans can scream huzzah as the tap list includes several Meads. It’s not surprising given Phantom’s wine-making roots. There’s no point in recommending any beers, as the tap list changes 2-3 times a week. The friendly knowledgeable barkeeps keep the beers flowing, and will help you choose from the dizzying array of choices. Bonus: The takeout prices are insanely cheap: 3 (24-ounce cans) for $20. Also, home brewers can buy supplies in their retail store. 1211 N. Las Brisas St., phantomales.com

Riip Beer Company

This nondescript, dog-eared little storefront in a strip mall on PCH is so close to the ocean you can see the surf and smell the salt. It’s a scruffy hangout with a surfer vibe and plenty of outdoor tables so you can enjoy the ocean air. The lone bathroom is easy to find — it’s the door plastered with stickers. Here’s what to sip: Dan K, a mild IPA; Tastee Waves, an IPA made with Citra hops; Bi-Porter Disorder, an American-style porter on nitro; Raider Bob, a DIPA that’s 8.5 percent ABV, so beware. 17214 Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, riipbeer.com

Stadium Brew Company, Aliso Viejo

This large, comfortable restaurant near a pretty green space in the back of a mall has a large comfort-food menu that’s reminiscent of TAPS in Brea. With their craft beer, we recommend the deep-fried mushrooms. Warning: a nearby multiplex makes parking tricky at times. Best beers I tried were the Amber Ale, a malty, nutty, nicely balanced and full flavored brew and the Berry Blue Sour with real blueberries floated in the glass, which gives it a zingy, summer-y quality. 26731 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo, stadiumbrewing.com

TAPS Fish House and Brewery
With restaurants in Brea, Corona and Irvine, TAPS is a throwback to Orange County’s brewpub days – not surprising, since it’s been around since 1999 – with a decent food menu to go with its prize-winning brews. Longtime brewmaster Victor Novak set a sterling standard that has been maintained by his successors since his departure in 2014, and TAPS has distinguished itself consistently at Denver’s Great American Beer Festival. There’s always a wide selection on tap, from light hefeweizens to murky stouts. TAPS does particularly well with fruit infusions – try the Orange Nectar Injector (8.6 percent ABV), a double IPA that somehow balances disparate, powerful flavors of fruit and hops. 101 E. Imperial Highway, Brea; 2745 Lakeshore Drive, Corona; 13390 Jamboree Road, Irvine, tapsfishhouse.com

The Bruery
This is the bar by which all breweries in Orange County are judged. All hail the King of Belgian-style ales. These brewers can do no wrong. Pick whatever inspires you and trust. Match that with a modern tasting room, complete with board games and, on most days, food trucks. If you’re an IPA-maker, it’s time to get nervous. The Belgian Geek Squad is doing what they promised never to do: brew IPAs. Their new line, dubbed OffShoot Beer Co., debuted with four IPA styles in April, including a bad-boy unfiltered triple. 717 Dunn Way, Placentia, thebruery.com

The Good Beer Company
Located inside a charming brick-walled former livery, Good Beer is a no frills tasting room with friendly barkeeps. It’s all about the sours. Don’t come here unless you’re prepared to pucker up. The lightweight sours are cloudy, watery and tart. Pedestrian, and not as sophisticated as Hoparazzi. 309 W. 4th St., Santa Ana, thegoodbeerco.com/welcome/

Tustin Brewing Company
An epitome of a neighborhood brewpub serving a Gen X and Baby Boomer crowd. The house beers pale in comparison to the 21-year-old brewery’s stellar guest tap list and bottle selection. It’s not uncommon to see Russian River Brewing Company’s Pliny the Elder on draft or bottles of Trappist beers by Rochefort Brewery. 13011 Newport Ave., No. 100, Tustin, tustinbrewery.com

Unsung Brewing Company

A modernized century old marmalade factory serves as the Tustin-based brewery’s only tasting room. Across the street from the Anaheim Packing House, it serves about 10-12 beers – most with made up superhero-inspired names like Anthia, Buzzman and Propeller Head. All have back stories, so if you like to gab about beer, saddle up to the bar for some geeked out banter. The newbie brewery has grand plans to grow into its 20-some tap handles. Go for the small batch stuff under the “Incubator” series, which are brewed on site. We also like the Buzzman, a creamy ale described as a “mutant” American Ale because the hybrid is made by fermenting an ale at lager temperatures. If the Uuuuger is on tap, get it. It smells like punch but hits hard like a double IPA should. That is the exception as most of the core beers are easy ales, not too hoppy. Very approachable. 500 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, unsungbrewing.com

Nancy Luna is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years reporting experience. She's been the Register's restaurant beat writer since 2005, covering some of the biggest players in the industry: In-N-Out, Chipotle, McDonald’s and Taco Bell. Luna also covers dining trends from food halls to food trucks. She writes with authority and is considered an expert in her field.

Paul D. Hodgins is a freelancer who previously worked at the Orange County Register since 1993. He spent more than two decades as the Register’s theater critic, and for eight years he wrote about dance as well. Hodgins has also written for American Theatre, Variety, The Sondheim Review and Backstage West. Hodgins has also been active as an educator and scholar. He was the music director of the dance department at The University of California, Irvine from 1985-92 and served in similar positions at Eastern Michigan University, Vancouver’s Simon Fraser University and the Banff Centre for the Arts. His book about relationships between music and choreography, 'Music, Movement and Metaphor,' was published in 1992. Since 2001, Hodgins has taught arts and entertainment journalism at California State University, Fullerton. Hodgins holds a doctorate in musical composition and theory from the University of Southern California. He lives in Huntington Beach.